Metro Sreedharan dumps Reliance bid

The CoS is likely to discuss the expert panel's recommendation on Thursday.

The plan to modernise the Delhi and Mumbai airports got a leg-up on Tuesday when an experts committee headed by DMRC chief E Sreedharan said only one bidder — GMR Fraport — had scored more than the qualifying marks of 80.

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The committee downgraded the Reliance-ASA consortium from the previous score of 80.6 to 79.4 on account of managerial capability and transition plan.

Subject to ratification by the eGoM headed by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee later this week, GMR-Fraport is likely to get Delhi airport while Mumbai airport is likely to be awarded to the Airports Authority of India, which in turn will create a special purpose vehicle in which it will rope in international partners and investors.

The Sreedharan panel submitted its report to the BK Chaturvedi-headed committee of secretaries (CoS) set up by the eGoM. The committee wants Delhi airport to be on the fast track as the Capital will host the Commonwealth Games in 2010. The modernised airport needs to be handed over to the administration by December 2009.

Sources say the CoS is expected to discuss the recommendation again on Thursday before the eGoM meets later that evening. The sources add the views of the expert panel are not binding on the eGoM.